Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chen Xi reviewed the supply list one last time, then looked toward Jia Xu, who stood silently to the side, and nodded quietly.

Immediately, a wave of cheers erupted throughout the Political Office. Guan Yu rose to his feet, his eyes slightly open as he swept his gaze over the crowd, then bowed toward Liu Bei, who was resting with his eyes closed at the chief seat. ”Brother, all military supplies have been gathered, and the Qing and Xu army is already in place.”

After exhaling deeply, Liu Bei slowly stood up. ”Guan Yu, hear my decree! You shall serve as the Vanguard Commander, leading thirty thousand troops to depart from Mount Tai. Proceed through Jibei Kingdom and unite with the forces of Lub Su and Guo Jia to attack Jizhou!”

”Understood!” Guan Yu bowed deeply. Liu Bei’s words were crystal clear: as long as Liu Bei did not oversee the expedition personally, Guan Yu would be the Chief Commander of this Northern Expedition, holding supreme authority over appointments and battle decisions.

”Zhao Yun, you will command all our cavalry troops to connect the various divisions, ensuring mutual backup. Should any army encounter an unforeseen situation, you alone have the authority to make decisive actions!” Liu Bei turned to Zhao Yun, who had remained at Mount Tai since his return.

”Understood!” Zhao Yun clasped his fists and replied. The power granted to him by Liu Bei was considerable, essentially giving him oversight over everyone except the Central Army and Guan Yu’s Vanguard.

”Wei Yan, you shall lead a corps as the Vanguard. Clear paths through mountains and build bridges over rivers; you must not slacken.” Liu Bei commanded Wei Yan firmly.

”Understood!” Wei Yan showed a hint of excitement. Although he had anticipated leading the vanguard, he hadn’t expected the assignment to come so quickly.

”Xu Shu, you shall serve as an advisor to Wei Yan. After encountering the Jizhou Army, you will deliberate with Wei Yan and Guan Ping on strategies for response.” Liu Bei glanced at Xu Shu, his face bearing a slight smile. He trusted Xu Shu more than Wei Yan and Guan Ping, which was why Xu Shu’s role was pivotal in tactical discussions.

”Understood!” Xu Shu bowed deeply, habitually using his sandalwood fan to sweep up his slipping hair bun. When he rose again, a sharp gleam like the flash of a drawn sword briefly pierced Liu Bei’s senses, though the feeling quickly dissipated.

”Zichuan and Wen He, you two will accompany the expedition and join me in overseeing the Central Army,” Liu Bei said with a lighthearted smile as he looked toward Jia Xu and Chen Xi, who were sitting together in a detached manner.

”Understood!” Chen Xi and Jia Xu responded with a small salute.

”Zizhong, you will need to work hard and assist Gong Youu in managing logistics. Ensure no mistakes are made.” Liu Bei directed his instructions toward Mi Zhu, who bowed slightly in acknowledgment. Mi Zhu was aware of the heavy load on Sunx Qian’s shoulders, as keeping transportation and logistics smooth depended heavily on Sunx Qian’s construction efficiency.

”Wen Ru, manage the coordination of Qing, Xu, and Yan’s three prefectures. After I leave, you will have unilateral authority over all matters. Among my subordinates, you are the one most adept at governance, military affairs, and strategic planning. Internal stability will rely on you,” Liu Bei said as he handed his secondary sword to Li Youu. ”If unrest arises during this period, use my sword to execute justice!”

”Understood.” Li Youu stepped forward and respectfully accepted the remaining male sword from Liu Bei’s paired swords of Yin and Yang. ”I will not disappoint you, my lord.”

”Wen Ru, try to temper your inclination toward killing. You are extraordinarily gifted and well-rounded as a sage, but your excessive ruthlessness can be unsettling. Spend some time studying classic books from your main family to cultivate a more peaceful mindset.” Liu Bei hesitated before finally voicing his thoughts. Over the years, he had noticed that while Li Youu was indeed an exceptionally capable and comprehensive talent, his occasional bursts of ruthless decisiveness were chillingly intense.

”I will take note.” Li Youu pondered momentarily before replying.

”Boning, I entrust law and order to you. After clearing the area north of the Huai River, overseeing governance and legal matters will also fall under your charge. As for the Yuzhou Aristocratic Family, that will be left to Zhongyu. Regarding your younger brother, how Yuzhou is governed will depend on you both,” Liu Bei turned toward Mann Chong and Xun Yue.

”Understood!” Mann Chong responded curtly, his face cold. Liu Bei found no fault in his demeanor; if Mann Chong were to act warmly one day, Liu Bei might genuinely feel concerned.

”Thank you, my lord.” Xun Yue bowed deeply and expressed his gratitude. It was evident that Liu Bei had chosen to overlook Xun Yan’s prior probing actions.

”No need to be so formal. Xiuruo, after all, is an extraordinary talent of the realm. Some measure of temperament is natural. Considering the intricate network of relationships within the Yuzhou Aristocratic Family, it’s fitting for Xiuruo to handle its management.” Liu Bei glanced at Xun Yue nonchalantly and had already understood why Chen Xi had insisted on having Xiuruo undertake Yuzhou’s governance.

”I will ensure Xiuruo fully appreciates your intentions, my lord,” Xun Yue replied tranquilly. Though he could discern the restrictions buried within Liu Bei’s words, it did not bother him. Aristocratic families did indeed warrant curtailment, and even the Xun Family must operate within defined boundaries to maintain order.

Liu Bei paid no further attention to Xun Yue. His subordinates were astute, often catching on with the briefest of explanations. Of course, the exception was Chen Xi, whose grasp of daily life often left gaps, making him appear dazed from time to time.

”Everyone, go make preparations. Do not waste the hour,” Liu Bei said as he surveyed the group. As for Jian Yong, Liu Yan, and others, he found no need for reminders. Whether they chose to join the expedition or not was immaterial. If they wished to go, Liu Bei would naturally bring them along.

Soon, only Chen Xi, Jia Xu, Li Youu, and Liu Bei remained in the Political Office. Liu Bei looked at the three of them with an odd expression and asked, ”Do you have any matters you haven’t reported yet?”

”No, I’m only bored. With such a large-scale military expedition, I was just wondering whether a divination might be in order,” Li Youu replied expressionlessly.

”I was thinking the same,” Jia Xu said. Initially observing that neither Chen Xi nor Li Youu had moved, he decided to stay. Upon hearing Li Youu’s suggestion, Jia Xu quickly realized its intent and echoed it with a blank expression.

”Zichuan, don’t tell me you’re considering this too. When King Wuu campaigned against Zhou, the shaman’s divination predicted great misfortune. Yet Grand Duke Jiang pressed on with determination. At the Battle of Muye, victory was determined by strength and strategy, not the whims of shamans predicting national fortune,” Liu Bei asked and immediately blocked Chen Xi from responding.

”Oh~” Chen Xi nodded absently and chose not to respond further.

”However, since all three of you seem to be in favor of a divination, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt,” Liu Bei murmured hesitantly as he looked at the three, figuring it was unwise to argue over something so trivial.

”Let’s do it. I’ve prepared ninety-nine copper coins. One toss will reveal the outcome based on the number of heads versus tails,” Chen Xi said, suddenly animated. For an expedition of such magnitude, adding a little excitement like this seemed appropriate for morale, even though Chen Xi knew it wouldn’t actually affect the outcome. It was just for a bit of entertainment.

Li Youu turned his head silently, while Jia Xu sighed. ”Zichuan, stop fooling around. Playing with double-sided copper coins too often can lead to trouble. Let’s focus on real business instead, Wen Ru, you shouldn’t humor this either—it’s meaningless.” (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with recommendations or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)